Welcome to health profession advising/counseling at Hobart & William Smith Colleges. Our office works with both undergraduates and graduates regarding academics required and credentials necessary for successful application to medical and other health profession schools. Our purpose is to help interested health profession students learn about the various health-related occupations, assess their career goals, and gain admission to professional schools.

For more detailed information on preparing for a career in medicine, click on the "Medical Career Resources".

If you would like more information about the Blackwell Medical Scholarship Program click this link:
Blackwell Scholarship Program

Our liberal arts curriculum allows students to explore an array of subjects. Students are advised to take a core of courses required by almost all health profession programs and to major in a subject based on interest and the ability to do well in that major. While this major may be in any department, most students considering a career in a health profession major in a natural science.

Almost all health profession schools require a year of English, which includes composition, and a year each of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry and general physics; the courses must include laboratories and should not be designated "for non-science majors".

BIOLOGY: Organisms & Populations 151 and Molecules & Cells152, or any two laboratory-based biology courses numbered above 150.

GENERAL CHEMISTRY: Molecules That Matter 110 and Chemical Reactivity 120. These courses satisfy the requirement for two courses in inorganic chemistry.

ORGANIC CHEMISTRY: Introductory Organic Chemistry 240 and Intermediate Organic Chemistry 241. These courses satisfy the requirement for two courses in organic chemistry.

PHYSICS: Introductory Physics I 150 and Introductory Physics II 160. These courses fulfill the requirement for laboratory-based general physics.

MATHEMATICS: Calculus I 130 and Calculus II 131. These courses are prerequisites for our calculus-based physics courses, so they complete the requirement for those schools that require or recommend mathematics.

ENGLISH: two courses which involve composition.

PSYCHOLOGY: required or recommended by some schools.

If previous experience exempts you from a course, you may take advanced courses at the discretion of the department chair.

Getting Started:

Students interested in health-related careers should take a minimum of two science courses in their first fall semester. Students interested in medicine should choose at least two of the following courses for the fall semester: Either BIOL 151 or BIOL 152 (These two introductory biology courses may be taken in either order), CHEM 110, MATH 130, or PHYS 150. Students interested in a career in dentistry, veterinary medicine, physical therapy, or other health –related fields are encouraged to include BIOL 151 or BIOL 152 along with CHEM 110 in their fall semester schedule, and should consult with the pre-health advisor.

Medical & Pre-Professional Exams

Admission tests must be taken almost a year before entry into professional school, therefore, the required courses, with the possible exception of English and psychology, should be taken before spring semester of the junior year for those planning to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) in April. The MCAT, a standardized test of verbal reasoning, biological sciences, physical sciences, and a writing-sample section, is used by virtually every medical school as an important part of their admission evaluation process. Similar tests are administered for other health professions, i.e. dental (DAT), optometry (OAT). Veterinary schools generally require the MCAT, Veterinary College Admission Test (VCAT), or the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).

The Health Professions Advisory Committee

By spring of the junior year, students interested in applying to a health profession graduate program and planning to attend upon completion of the bachelor’s degree, will complete an application to the Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC). Applicants will also submit a written personal statement (outlining why they wish to enter the desired health field), a resume and a minimum of three faculty recommendations: two sciences and one non-science. The credentials are evaluated by the HPAC, and recommended students receive a committee letter written by the chairman of the HPAC. The letter becomes part of the applicant’s dossier and it is sent, at the student’s request, to each school to which he/she student applies.

In addition to evaluating students’ credentials and suitability for professional school, the HPAC serves in advisory and support capacities for health profession students throughout their years at the colleges. The committee, averaging between 8-10 members mainly from the science faculty, is available for academic advising beginning fall semester of the students’ first year. Committee members also prepare students for professional school interviews by conducting videotaped mock interviews, and by critiquing students’ personal statements.

Many opportunities to gain first-hand clinical experience are available by volunteering and doing internships. Our Partnership Program at Geneva General Hospital requires participants to complete 60 hours of shadowing of physicians and health care providers in a department of interest. Students have an opportunity to take part in this program each semester beginning sophomore year, or they may be placed at desired sites throughout the local and surrounding areas depending on their interest, i.e. dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, etc. We aim to have each health profession student participate in a shadowing experience to help confirm career goals.

Many students expand their credentials by participating in research through Independent Study or Honors projects with science faculty on our campus or at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station of Cornell University located in Geneva. The Colleges has been very successful in gaining grant money for this research in recent years. Monies from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), the Johnson Foundation, the Merck Company Foundation, the National Science Foundation and Sigma XI, have been used to conduct student summer research projects which are presented at scientific meetings and/or published in scientific journals.

All health profession students are encouraged to take advantage of Term Abroad opportunities and to participate fully in the liberal arts experience e.g. intercollegiate athletics, musical groups, community service, etc. It is the Committee’s impression that well-rounded students are the most successful in gaining acceptance to professional programs and developing into compassionate physicians.

A counselor (non-faculty) available part-time for individual and group counseling to guide students in fashioning a complete set of competitive credentials and to appraise students regarding:

Various graduate programs in the medical health professions of allopathic medicine, dentistry, osteopathy, optometry, podiatry, chiropractic, naturopathic and veterinary medicine; and the allied fields such as Physician Assistant, Physical Therapy, Genetic Counseling, Pharmacy, etc.

Specific requirements for the desired professional programs and a timeline for meeting those requirements.

Timely gathering of credentials and maintaining a file for the applicant which includes confidential faculty/non-faculty recommendations; a summary of extracurricular activities including health-related work, research, and volunteer experience; and the personal statement/application essay.

Various preparatory courses for the required admission tests, how to prepare, and when to take the exams.

How to access and process the current application materials

Interview preparation through written guides and videotaped mock interviews.

Internship, volunteer and employment opportunities in local area and nationwide. Coordinates the Geneva General Hospital Internship Program.

Current information and opportunities through newsletters published each term.

Resources available in Biology/Health Professions Resource Room Eaton 202 including files on Summer Programs, Post Baccalaureate Programs, MD/Ph.D Programs; catalogs from the professional schools, application materials, preparatory guides for the various programs; financial aid information; military scholarship materials, video tapes and much more.

Students interested in a health profession career should make an appointment to meet with the health profession counselor, Ms. Caryl Dooley at 315-781-3353, Eaton 226.

Health professions faculty advisor (in addition to first-year and major advisor) available for academic advising beginning fall semester of the student’s first year at the Colleges.

Serves as chairman of the Health Professions Advisory Committee.

Writes committee letters for recommended students.

Oversees all programs of the health profession office.

Students in need of health profession academic advising should schedule an appointment with the health profession advisor, Dr. Thomas J. Glover at 315-781-3602, Eaton 302 during his posted office hours.

Hobart & William Smith Colleges has an Early Assurance Program with both SUNY Health Science Center at Buffalo College of Medicine and SUNY Health Science Center at Syracuse College of Medicine. Students, who complete half of the premed requirements with a GPA of at least 3.5 by Winter Term of their sophomore year, have minimum SAT scores of 1200, and a Health Profession Advisory Committee Letter may apply. A Hobart student applied in 1998 and was accepted for the Class of 2000. As a result of this acceptance, he is not required to take the MCAT’S allowing him more time to delve into independent study, honors, extended internships, study abroad, etc.

Q. Do I have to major in a natural science?

A. No. Major in what truly interests you and in a subject in which you do well. Most of our health profession applicants major in a natural science (biology, chemistry, biochem, etc.) because that is what they enjoy studying, but we have had successful applicants from a variety of non-science departments and majors as well.

Q. How many students do you get into medical school?

A. This is the most asked and hardest question to answer because there are so many variables. Students are admitted on the basis of a strong academic record and admission test scores, a committee letter, health care experience, extracurricular involvement, and personal qualities. Hobart & William Smith Colleges has a strong reputation for preparing competitive applicants who can and do excel at the best professional schools (see Success of our Graduates).

Q. Where do most HWS students attend medical school?

A Since many of our applicants are residents of New York State, they attend the State University of New York (SUNY) schools of Buffalo, Brooklyn, Syracuse and Stony Brook because of the quality of these institutions and their tuition. However, HWS graduates are currently enrolled in over thirty different health profession schools, including some of the most prestigious. (See "Success of our Graduates")

Q. Are there any scholarships available?

A. Yes, scholarships are available to a limited number of highly qualified through the Trustee Scholars Program.

Q. What if I change my mind about a medical/health profession?

A. The counselor and advisor will help to direct students to other possible health-related fields, or to suggest advisors in other disciplines depending on their new interests and talents.